All the side streets in LoDo just a few blocks from the ballpark provide 2 hour metered parking spots. A quarter will get you 15 minutes and if you have 8 you can stretch your stay to two hours. Clint Hurdle decided to park on the street today and fumbled with the pile of change in his pocket only to pull out 6 nickels. The way the season has been going so far it looked like it would be enough to beat the parking police.

As it turned out, 6 nickels was far from enough on a day when he could have used all 8 quarters as the game ran 3 hours and 1 minute, 6 Rockies pitchers, and 7 of the Phillies 8 runs were scored with 2 outs.

Hurdle’s 18 minutes worth was once again provided by the power hitting of his lineup – today it was Tulowitski going deep to left for his 3rd homer run in as many games, a 2 run blast by Garrett Atkins in the 2nd, and a solo shot by Barmes. Phillies’ pitcher Brett Myers was little phased as he went on to win his 5th career appearance at Coors Field (5-0 career starts). By the end of 7 complete innings, Myers had given up 4 runs on 4 hits, with 6Ks and just 1 walk.

Ryan Spilborghs smashed another double giving him 5 on the year and a major league lead in the category. Spilborghs has been a real bright spot since starting every day for the first time in his career going 7-18 in the first 5 games.

Unfortunately, having now experienced a once around of the Rockies’ starting rotation, we have come back to the same old starting point – Pitching, Pitching, Pitching… and the 5th game left more questions for fans than the first game in Arizona just a week ago.

The game was a mess this evening because the pitching was a mess. Was this a throw away for the coaching staff ?

Jorge De La Rosa started the game pitching just 4.2 innings giving up 5 runs on 6 hits, 2 walks and 3 strikeouts. De La Rosa’s numbers, however, don’t speak to the performance. Jorge never got in a groove and looked tired early in the 2nd. He threw way too many pitches in getting the paltry 14 outs he registered. With the proverbial deer in the headlight stare, we are left with a simple question, “Who should have been optioned to Colorado Springs? Morales or De La Rosa?

Fans were then treated to a flurry of nickels from Hurdles change drawer as we watched Speier. Hammel, Grilli, Street, and Corpas throw and throw and throw. Like I said, “What a mess.”

I guess after Speier, Hurdle decided., “What the hell….let’s take a look at our new guy and just let Hammel pitch.” The problem with that was, Hurdle just grabbed another nickel – Hammel either threw high and to the right or low and to the left for most of his 2.2 innings giving up a home run, 5 hits, 2 runs and chalking up only 1 strike out. Clearly Hammels wasn’t ready for Coors Field.

Grilli – forget it.

Street? Jury is still out since 1 sub par performance is not enough to pass judgment, however, pitching just .2 innings, Street gave up 3 more hits and another run, striking out 1 for his 2nd and final out on the day.

I guess after fumbling for quarters all evening, Hurdle finally pulled one out of his pocket giving the ball to Corpas to register the last out of a long, long game.

As I’ve said for the last 2 weeks, who are these guys? Hammels, Street, and Belisle – the newest additions to a questionable pitching staff. After last night, I am still saying, “Who are these guys?.

Next up – back to the first – Aaron Cook and the final game of a 3 game series Sunday afternoon at Coors Field vs. Chan Ho Park and the Philadelphia Phillies.